Spencer police probe fatal motorcycle crash

Sunday

Aug 4, 2013 at 9:06 PMAug 4, 2013 at 9:23 PM

By Kim Ring, TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF

SPENCER — Police could decide Monday whether to charge a Grafton man whose 2010 Ford Flex collided with a Harley-Davidson on Meadow Road Saturday night, killing the driver of the motorcycle and critically injuring his wife, who was also on the motorcycle.

Thomas J. Mansfield, 58, of North Brookfield Road in South Barre was killed in the accident. His wife, Jane Mansfield, 54, sustained serious injuries to her leg and face..

Early indications were that the Ford, driven by Marc Pillsbury, 41, of Frankie Lane, North Grafton, was headed east on Smithville Road when it went onto Meadow Road and struck the motorcycle, which was headed south, said Spencer police Sgt. Michael Befford.

The Ford struck the motorcycle broadside, police said. The accident happened about 10:45 p.m. Saturday and forced emergency personnel to close both roads for several hours.

Mrs. Mansfield was taken by Life Flight helicopter, which landed at the nearby Spencer Fairgrounds, to UMass Memorial Medical Center — University Campus in Worcester with serious injuries. Sgt. Befford said she suffered compound fractures to her right leg, along with facial cuts and bruises. She was listed in critical condition in the intensive care unit Sunday, according to a nursing supervisor.

Mr. Pillsbury was also briefly hospitalized after the crash when he complained of chest pains.

At the accident scene on Saturday, the front of the Ford was heavily damaged and the motorcycle lay crumpled behind it. Two helmets and a Harley-Davidson boot were in the roadway not far from the downed motorcycle.

Police plan to seek search warrants for the vehicle Monday and may announce whether charges will be filed.

Accident reconstruction specialists from the Central Massachusetts Law Enforcement Council worked with Sgt. Befford and other Spencer officers to determine the cause of the crash. There is a stop sign at the end of Smithville Road near the crash scene.

Sgt. Befford said the investigation into the crash was continuing Sunday night.

Contact Kim Ring at kring@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @kimmring